Reeling and feeding device



May 27, 1952 F. G. HENRY 2,598,540

REELING AND REEDINGV DEVICE Filed Deo. 7, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l FIG,|

n: l @JE /73 Ferdinand G. Henry i INVENTOR.

ATTORN EYS.

May 27, 1952. F. G. HENRY 2,598,540v

REELING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 7 sheets-sneet 2 HHIIIHHIIIIIIHIIHIII IUUIUN INVENTOR.

Ferdinand G. Henry ATTORNEYS.

May 27, 1952 v I F. G. HENRY 2,598,540

REELING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 7 Sheet's-Sheet 3 yZV/,L

ATTORNEYS.

May 27, 1952 FQ G. HENRY 2,598,540

REELING ND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 3 INVENTOR.

Ferdinand G.` Henry.

.BWI Mba@ ATTORNEYS.

May 27, 1952 F. G. HENRY REELING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7. 1948 FIG @wmmm/ms m FIG fafa/47%);

INVENTOR.

SYM

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H 6V A a d n. G .m d u F May 27, 1952 F. G. HENRY REELNG AND FEEDIYNG DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 www# l INVENTOR. Ferdinand G. Henry ATTORNEYS.

MaY27, 1952 F. G.- HENRY 2,598,540-

REELING AND F'EEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 NVEN TOR.

Ferdinand, G. Hem

MSV@

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REELING AND FEEDING DEVICE Ferdinand G. Henry, Jersey City, N. J.

Application VDecenflber 7, 1948, Serial No. 63,877

(Cl. 6de-86) 17 claims.

This invention relates to reeling and feed-ing devices and more particularly to `the control means for taking up or letting out of yarns, thread, or wire-like elements such as in theart of knitting or in the artsof weavingo'r wir-e making and, also for iilm, web or strips or the like such as in the art of making webs or strips from plastics or fibrous materials such asvare used in the making of paper, linoleum and othersimilar products the cross section of rwhich may be of vany form so long as the material is flexible in a -direction perpendicular to the direction of inovement of the material.

In the art of knitting, in any process using the warp principle, especially in the production of fabrics upon soec'alled high speed warp knitting machines, the uniformity and density vor thick ness of the stitches is determined ina large measure by the amount of yarn or thread allotted and fed to the needles during the knitting cycle.

In order to control the movement of the warp which supplies this feed it has been found necessary to provide some sort of brake orfrictionclut-ch device operated by the movement of a tension rod, over Which the sheet of threads pass, and actuated by the pull of said threads during the knitting cycle. Control means for such winding fand reeling mechanism have been based on tension-differential or the like in weaving and knitting machines as Well as other mechanisms for handling of wire tapes and the like. l

While the use of such' tensioning devices have been necessary in textile knitting 'or weaving machines to take up the slack released by the rotating warp beam during the time, in the cycle when no thread is being used by the needles, springloaded tension rods and other tension control devices do not always provide uniform tension and because of the present practice of using warps of increasingly larger diameters and Weight, ithas been found in practice that the force to overcome the inertia of such large warp beams may be greater'than the combined tensile `strength ofthe yarns or threads which lintermittentlyl pull upon the warp beam during the interval of release of the warp beam brakes coupled with the warp beam so that breakage of threads, or needles, Aor both occurs.

Stopping or starting of the machine produces an irregularity in the knitted fabric and the .formation of a line or streak known in the 'art as stop mark which is very undesirable for' obvious reasons.

Obviously, if the threads or yarns as well as the- 2 exert in order to put the Warp beam in motion, these various troubles would be entirely eliminated.

Obviously also, if the threads or yarns could be fed or supplied to the needles at a uniform rate of speed and tension, yas required by the needles and pattern of the fabric knitted, the problemof broken threads and needles would be solved., a

uniform pattern o'f yfabric would result and stop marks eliminated.

It is also obvious that, having removedfrom the thread and needles lthe .necessity of vsetting the Warp beam in motion, the .inertia of the lwarp beam having been so isolated would no 'longer ilimit the speed of the knitting process and the machine could therefore be operated at a greatly increased kknitting .speed with correspondingly increased production and more perfect products. To this end 'my invention is 4herein described as applied to such a warp knitting machine.

My invention is herein illustrativelyfshown inv the accompanying drawings as applied toa warp knitting machine simply as a convenient basis for explaining the principle' of the' present invention although it maybe embodied in many forms in different types of machines for greatly Vdiversified products and purposes and I have illustratedfseveral of them and it is understood that I donnot consider the specific form of any oneof the mechanism illustrated in the lpresent'disclosure to be limiting upon my invention, 4for example:

The specific control 'means and mechanism 'of one illustrated embodiment ofimy inventionim'ight beapplied to other embodiments without in any Way violating the scopeu of `my invention.

In this respect that, by 'simplyrreversing the ace tion of .the device, it can be applied to yrewinding either thread, or wire-like material, vor web Aor strip ymaterial from a source 'of constant and uni-VV form `supply to a reel or coil of continually increasing diameter.

Also that in the same manner,` 'this device Acan be applied to wind or rewind materials from La variable supply source, lor `from-a ecoil "of continually decreasing diameter to coil of ycontinual-ly increasing diameter.

Although the control mechanism in accordance'. with my invention, in one disclosure, is appliedto be applied to a machine `for handlingsand-processe.

ing materials of a diversity broad ienoughto .include either thread, yarn, rope or 4wire-like' elements, or web, or strip or the like such as the materials aforementioned.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a device capable of letting out aforementioned material at a uniform velocity and tension from a source of supply of variable velocity and tension, that is to provide a linear velocity differential control system for such winding and reeling devices as distinguished from such tension differential principles of control as well as other systems of control.

A further object, is to provide means whereby the linear velocity of said material let out or taken up by the reel or beam will remain uniform regardless of any increase or decrease in the diameters of the coil or coils so wound or unvvound.

A further object, is to provide means for maintaining uniform and constant tension of any predetermined magnitude on said material between the reel and the processing machine or mechanism.

Still another object is to provide an improved apparatus actuable by and in response to a change in linear velocity in an advancing thread, web or other material to correspondingly alter the speed of advance and to operate to control and regulate said velocity of advance by accelerating or retarding the speed of advance ultimately to produce substantially constant velocity of said moving material.

A further object is to provide means for feeding flexible materials at a continually uniform velocity and uniform tension and, especially, means capable of feeding this material at a high rate of speed.

Another object, especially in connection with the application of the invention to knitting machines, is to provide means to insure, in the successive knitting cycles, the requisite and accurate extent of yarn feed, from the conventional i supply reel or beam, with flow of the sheet of yarns or threads over a responsive or floating yarn guide to the knitting elements, as required by the cycle, and to provide an improved action in the control of the drive of the reel or beam, with variable rotation and substantially provide continuous and responsive control of yarn feed throughout each cycle.

Still another object is` to eliminate the use of brakes and friction'clutches to eliminate the necessity of using spring-loaded or yieldable tension rods or levers actuated by the yarns or threads in direct cooperation with the feeding or feed control process, and to provide means for causing the warp beam or reel itself to take up slack, and

means for maintaining substantially uniform lineal velocity and tension throughout the entire knitting operation. It is to be noted as will appear hereinafter that a conventional type of spring loaded tension bar is shown in the drawings as a part of the knitting machine and its function is entirely connected with the knitting operation with which it cooperates in the production of fabric: such a tensioning bar is used on knitting machines to compensate for the travel, back and forward of the needle bar, but not in conjunction with the differential linear velocity control apparatus in accordance with this invention.

According to the embodiment of my invention as applied to a warp knitting machine I apply such differential lineal velocity control means to one of the warp threads coming from the supply reel which afterwards is returned to follow the other warp threads through the machine to be 4 incorporated in the fabric produced by the machine; all the warp threads are thus controlled in accordance with the velocity of the warp thread or strand passing through the differential velocity control means for controlling the speed of drive of the warp drum.

Such control means are individually applicable for controlling the speed of take-off of the Warp threads on each warp drum of a duplex or multiple warp drum machine, likewise to other forms of machines employing'wires, cables, tapes or the like whether multiple or single thread or warp and another feature in such machines is to provide for increasing or decreasing the speed of the controlled warp, varying the tension and also the speed of operation of the machine itself without interferring with the functioning of the lineal velocity differential control mechanism.

Further objects, details and advantages of my invention will appear in the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompaying drawings illustrating a highly practical application of the invention to knitting machines in particular and other web or strip material winding and reeling mechanism.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation with parts diagrammatically shown of a Duplex or double Warp knitting machine illustrating warp drum driving mechanism and showing various details of a differential lineal velocity control system in accordance with my invention as applied to one of the drums.

Fig. 1A is an enlarged end elevation inclined to a horizontal position for purpose of illustration of the speed varying mechanism for the variable speed transmission in the drive for one of the warp drums vof the knitting machine showing associated parts of the transmission with several parts broken away or omitted.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the knitting machine, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged inclined side elevation of several parts of the speed varying mechanism and variable speed transmission corresponding with parts illustrated in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 of the drive shaft in said speed varying mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 showing the driven shaft of said speed varying mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5 showing the speed varying element of said speed varying mechanism and its cooperation with the transmission.

Fig. l7 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 1 showing the driving disk of the transmission.

Fig. 8 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing the intermediate disk of the transmission.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the differential lineal velocity control element for the speed control of said transmission.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the differential pulleys and adjacent parts shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged end elevation of the outer adjustable pulley shown in Figs. 9 and 10.'

Fig. 12 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the rotary switch elements driven by said differential pulleys of said differential lineal velocity control element.

assainir).

Fig. `13. is ,an Yenlarged verticalv sectional view takerron line |3|3 of Fig. 9 showing one of said rotary switch elements in elevation.

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of the control system showing elements of the knitting'machine, driving transmission control elements, and differential lineal velocity control elements, with switchesY and the like diagrammatically illus- Hated,-

Fig,- l is a side elevation partly in vertical section along line |5|5 of Fig. 16 illustrating the application of such differential lineal velocity control mechanism to k a webor strip material reeling device'in accordance withA my invention.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary end elevation thereof.

Fig. 1f! is a vertical sectional detail View taken on line 5|5cf Fig. 16 of one of the differential speedcontrol rollers thereof.l l

Referringtothe drawings for the sake of setting forth my invention I have illustrated in Figs. l and 2 in a Duplex or double vwarp knitting machine, to which in the preferred form my invention is applied and is most applicable, only such parts as may beL essential for an understanding of my reeling and feeding control system. i

In general parts of the knitting machine illustrated include a knitting machine end frame structure 20, vin the lower portion of which is indicated the knitting machine cam shaft 2| which is connected with a knitting machine driving motor 22.

From the knitting machine cam shaft 2| a driving chain 23 or the like is shown connected with a variable speed driving transmission 24 which in turn drives two separate Warp drum drive shafts 25 having Worms l26 on their upper ends meshing with worm gears 21 on shafts 23 of multiple thread'warp drums 29 for driving the drums for letting out the warp threads 35 under the proper tension and at a controlled speed to needles 3| indicated.

Any one of the warp threads 39, the warp thread 32, nearest the end of the warp drum being selected for illustration acts as a pilot thread which takes a detour path through the warp thread differential lineal velocity control elements 33 carried preferably at the upper part of frame structure adjacent to the drum 29 with which the elements cooperate, thence back to rejoin the remaining warp threads 39 in their course over conventional yielding tensioning adjusting supports 34 and on to knitting needles 3|. For simplicity the differential lineal control elements 33 are illustrated for operation by the pilot warp thread 32 on the right hand Warp drum 23 which may serve to control the let out of both drums 29 though in some instances it may be desired to have each drum separately controlled by individual differential lineal control elements.

As hereinafter set forth in detail the differential lineal control elements operate electric circuits which eifect the operation of speed varying mechanisms 35 which are mechanically connected with the variable speed driving transmission 24 for governing the speed of rotation of each of the warp drums 29.v And also cooperating with transmission 24 is a manual speed adjusting mechanism |03 in conjunction with which the differential lineal control elements 33 and transmission speed varying mechanisms 35 cofunction as will be explained.

Referring in detail to the reeling and feeding mechanism, and more particularly rst to the mechanical drivesfor warp drums 29 from the knitting machine camshaft 2| according to the speed of which the letoi of the warp threads must be synchronized, the speed of such letoff of the warp threads is primarily responsive to the operation of the variable speed driving transmission 24.

This transmission 24 includes the drivingdisk 35, an intermediate speed controlling disk 31 and a pair of drum driving disks 38, one each of the latter for each warp drum drive shaft 25. An auxiliary transmission frame 39 is suitably supported by boltsv and spacer tubes or the like 40 on main end frame structure 20, with which it cooperates in bearing shafts 4 I, 42 and 43 upon which the respective disks 36, 31 and 38 are mounted so as to rotate withv them. It will be noted, that with the drive shaft 4| and its corresponding disk 36 located lowermost in the bearing frame structures, the intermediate disk 31 andV itsshaft 42 rdirectly above the latter it is convenient to position disks 38 and their shafts 43 radially with respect to shaft 42 as a center at a 120 angle with respect to each other and drive shaft, 4l in an arrangement for the` transmission speed varying mechanisms 35 to be actuated by drive shaft 4| and for cooperation with the disks 31 and 38 as will presently appear. It will also appear that each of the shafts 4|, 42 and 43 performs a particular function or dual function in the operation of the control system. Referring particularly to drive shaft 4| and disk 36 fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the sectional detail Fig. 7, it will be seen that shaft 4| is appropriately journaled in the frame members 29 and 39. Along said shaft, a chain sprocket 44 is keyed to the inner end (right endy in Fig. 7) upon which driving chain 23 from the knitting machine cam shaft is mounted for driving the same in unison with said cam shaft. A collar 45 is keyed to the shaft and engages a thrust ball bearing 46 between it and frame structure 20. Between frame members 20 and 39 disk 36 is provided with a long cylindrica1 bearing hub 41 so that it can slide lengthwise thereon but a longitudinal keyway and key 48 prevent Y rotation of the shaftand disk with respect to each other. A collar 49 keyed to shaft 4| provides an abutment for a spring 50 which yieldingly urges disk 3B from frame 39 toward frame structure 20 into engagement with a friction drive roller 5| between its face andthe face of intermediate disk 31 as best shown in Fig 2. On the outer end of shaft 4| is a beveled gear 52 for engaging beveled gears 53 on shafts 54 mounted in bearings 55 on frame 39 and side extensions 39a thereof providing a rotary operating drive for the speed varying mechanisms 35.

As best shown in Figs. l, 2 and particularly Fig. 8 disk 31 is mounted on shaft 42 adjacent to frame structure 29 with a thrust ball bearing 56 between it and the frame 20 with its longitudinal hub 51 keyed to the shaft so as to rotate this shaft therewith in a selected speed ratio with respect to drive shaft 4| and knitting machine cam shaft 2| as determined bythe manual speed adjusting mechanism |99. As will appear hereinafter this is an important feature since on its inner end shaft 42 carries a sprocket 53 for driving through a chain drive 59 the warp thread I speed governing mechanism 60 to be described hereinafter.

Shafts 43 have their disks 38 longitudinally slidably mounted thereon in a similar manner- Fig.j-2A springs 6| urge Athese. disks intoV ,engage-1 aoasro disks 36 and 38 are outward.- on their shafts 4| and 43 with respect to disk31 on its lshaft 42 affording a compact arrangement for transmit- `ting and varying the drive through from the knitting machine cam shaft 2| to the warp drums 29.

In this arrangement it will be noted that shafts 43 are at the same elevation, that is, level with respect to each other so that the warp drum driving shafts 25 are of the same length and the arrangement and operation is identical in affordingv a clockwise rotation to the left drum 29 and counterclockwise rotation to the right hand ldrum `for letting off the warp threads to the respective sets of knitting needles 3|. The thrust ball bearings on shafts 4|, 42 and 43 carry the opposing forces of the springs on the respective shafts so that the rollers between the respective disks are constantly under pressure for frictional drives between disks fromdisk 38 to disks V88, the disks all Vrotating together and in the same direction. Y

Thespeed ratio between shaft d2 and shafts d3 depends entirely upon the location of friction drive rollers 62 with respect to these shafts. Obviously, when rollers 82 are nearest shafts 42 and `furthest from shaft 63 the speed of shaft 43 will be a minimum and when roller e2 is nearest to shafts 43 and furthest from shaft l2 the speed `of shaft 43 will be at maximum and when rollers 62 are midway between the shafts the speed of the shafts will be equal. Thus it is possible to obtain any speed of shafts 43 between these two 'extremes by shifting the rollers t2 one way or the other between the two points. in this manner warp drums or reels 29 may be accelerated 'or slowed down as required.

ToV shift rollers 62 from one position to the other,.the speed varying mechanism 35 is provided. As shown in Figs. 1, 1A and 6 which illustrate the speed varying mechanism 35 for the right handwarp drum 29, roller 62 is rotatably mounted on stud 55 fixed in arm 86 pivoted o n stud 61 fixed in the end of an elongated longitudinally slidableY member 58. This swinging construction permits roller 62 to nnd its own centei` between disks 31 and 38. Member 38 for a portion of its length is preferably of rectangular cross section and is slidably mounted in guide sleeve member 69 secured to frame structure 2i) by screws running through spacers 1| to frame 28.

Beyond the rectangular cross sectionportion of member 68 it is formed with a threaded portion 12 which rotatably engages the internally threaded hub of worm wheel 13 held laterally xed in housing 14 which extends inwardly of frame 39e.

`Thus when worm wheel 13 is revolved, on the i will be described presently.

To rotate wormwheel 13, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 a worm 19 is in permanent engagement with worm wheel 13 and is rigidly fixed by pin 80 to a shaft 8| rotatably mounted in the abovev Said housing 14 which extends from the upper part of frame 39n and engages frame structure 20. On shaft 8| is a rigidly fixed gear 82. Thus, when gear 82 is revolved, worm wheel 13 revolves imparting longitudinal motion to screw portion 12 of slide member 68 and roller V62,'th'e direction of motion thereof depending entirely upon the direction of rotation of gear 82.

To effect this drive, as best shown in Figs. 1, 1A and 4 gears 83 and 84 are rotatably mounted in their respective bearings and 86, which are formed in extensions 'of housing 14 and held iin to revolve, these gears have rio-end play and are` permanently engaged with gear 82.

Gears 83 and 84 are provided with clutch teeth at 83a and 8lai designed to engage either teeth 89 or 98, respectively. on clutch 9| rotatably fixed to but slidably on the aforementioned shaft 54 which is driven by gear -53 in engagementv with gear 52 on drive shaft 8| of the transmission 24, so that when drive shaft 4| is rotated clutch 9| will rotate. Now, if clutch 9| is shifted into engagement with gear 83, shaft 8| and worm wheel 13 will rotate in one direction and screw 12 of slide member 68 and roller 62 Vwill move in a corresponding direction.

On the other hand, if clutch 9| is Yshifted into engagement with gear 84 the opposite will take place and screw 12 will move slide member 68 in the opposite direction taking roller 62 with it. While when clutch 9| is retained in the Vmedian plane or neutral position,l complete disengag'ee ment of both gears 83 and 84 obtains and` shaft 8| will remain motionless, stopping all movements of roller 62. Y

Thus the speed varying mechanism 35 affords a positive control over the location of roller 62 with respect to disks 31 and 38 and, of course, by this means, positive control over the speed of reel or warp drum 29. It is understood that this speed varying mechanism 35 is the same on both sides in connection with both disks 38 and warp drums 29 although it is not completely shown on the left side in the drawing.

One of the requisites of this invention is to increase the rotative speed of the warp drum or reel to correspond with the decrease in diameter of the winding of the thread or warp while it is being let out so that the lineal velocity ofthe thread remain substantialli7 uniform. This means that roller 62 must be shifted gradually to a point of higher velocity on disk V38, or in other words, toward shaft 43. This is accomplished by shifting clutch 9| in engagement with the proper gear, depending upon whether worm 19 and worfnwheel 13 and screw 12 are right hand or left hand.

The drawing shows right hand, so the shift would be to gear 84. If, on the other hand, the reel is rotating too fast, resulting in an over-feed a shift of clutch 9| to gear 83, reverses this action and the reel will slow down.

To accomplish this shifting of the clutch 9|, l

tending outwardly of fulcrum 93, is provided with a bifurcated extremity 91 engaging collars 98 and 89 free to slide on a rod |0| which is fixed to and between armatures |62 and |03 of solenoids |88 and |85 respectively. ySprings |06 and |61 under compression, keep collars 98 and 99 hard against lever 92 and are there for the purpose of eliminating chatter due to A. C. on the solenoids.

Normally, clutch 9| is out of engagement and roller 62 is at rest with respect to longitudinal movement. However, when solenoid is energized, armature |03 is drawn into this solenoid |05 pulling rod |0|, armature |02, spring |06, collar 98, lever 92, collar 99, and spring |01 with it.

'Ihis swinging of lever 92 flexes one of the springs 95 against its abutment pin 96 while engagement is made between clutch 9| and gear 84. This ends the movement of the lever 92 and collar-98, but the armature goes on slightly beyond this point compressing spring |06 against collar 98 and lever 92 so that any vibration within the armature is thus absorbed.

When the solenoid deenergizes, the armature is freed and lever 92 returns to normal position under control of springs 95. The same action takes place for engagement with gear 83, when solenoid |04 is energized.

When the machine is in operation and shaft 54 is rotating, it is then only a matter of energizing either solenoid |04 or |05 in order to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the reel or warp drum 29.

To limit the movement of roller 62 within its operative range, as mentioned an extension rod is fixed in screw 12 of member 88 and provided With two xed stop collars 16 and 16a designed and located to engage bifurcated arm |08 of a lever fulcrumed at |09 when roller 62 reaches either end of its travel. This lever has two arms 0 and extending outwardly, one designed to actuate the double-pole-double-throw switch 11 and the other to actuate the similar switch 18 referred to as limit. switches.

At the end of the travel of member 58 in one direction the corresponding collar, 16 or 15a, kicks up lever arm |08 and actuates its corresponding switch 11 or 19, and cuts off the current to its respective solenoid |04 or |05. The double throw feature of the switch also cuts off all current to the knitting machine, stopping all operations, as shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 14 the circuits of which will be hereinafter set forth. Any type double-pole-double-throw switch or any other combination of conventional cut out system could be used in this respect, though the one shown is preferred.

To set the shifting mechanism for friction roller 82, or speed carrying mechanism 35 in action differential linear control elements 33 are provided, as shown in Figs. l and 2 and in section in Fig. 9 and certain detail elements thereof in Figs. l0 to 13 inclusive. In general these differential linear control elements 33 include a differential rotary switch ||2 operated by a warp thread (32 of warp threads 30) or pilot thread operated differential pulleys ||3 and ||4 in conjunction with an idler pulley ||5 and the warp thread speed governing mechanism 60.

Referring first to the diiferential pulleys H3 and I I4 these are supported on a shaft I I6 rotatably mounted in bearings ||1 and ||8 supported in quill I I9. On shaft I I5k is rigidly mounted the pulley 3 which is an expansion pulley comprising a disk provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting teeth |16 having angularly disposed faces |11.

Disk |20 is fixed to shaft ||6 by pin |18 and is provided at the end .of its hub |19 with a threaded portion on which is screwed nut |80.

On hub |19 of disk |20 is slidably mounted disk |01 provided with an equal number of inwardly projecting teeth |82 having angularly disposed faces |83 designed to engage corresponding spaces on disk |20. Thus, when disk |8| is moved inor out of engagement with disk |20A angle A will remain unchanged but the root diameter B of the pulley will increase or decrease accordingly.

Spring |84, between the two disks, provides the required rigidity to hold disk |8| in correct set position and nut provides means for adjustment. Thus, I have provided means for adjusting the diameter of this pulley and, while it is true that the peripheral surface of this pulley will not, at all adjustments, furnish a perfect and unbroken circle and that it will be formed of a series of small arcs, in this case, at least, it doeslnot impair its efliciency. This adjustment is here provided in anticipation of manufacturing diiculties in the production of two pulleys of exactly the same diameters as the rotation of the two pulleys ||3 and ||4 must be maintained the same and the adjustment provides for the obtaining of the required identical circumferences.

At the opposite end of shaft ||6 and abutting against a shoulder |2|, is a hubbed disk |22 on which is permanently fixed an insulation disk |23 mounting contact segments |24 and |25, flush with, but separated by insulator |26 as shown in Figs. 9 and 13; Rigidly mounted on the hub of disk |22 is an insulated sleeve |21 provided with two metal slip rings I 28 and |29. One

`slip ring is electrically connected to segment |24,

the other to segment |25. A nut |30 presses the combination up against shoulder |2| preventing rotation with respect to shaft |I6. Y

Thus, turning wheel |20 will revolve the entire combination. Two collector brushes |3| 'and |32, one in contact with ring |28 and the other in contact with ring |29, are xed one to an insulating block |33 and the other to insulating block |34. Blocks |33 and |34 are set at the proper tension and position and held inyplace by nut |35 on a stud |36 supported by housing |31. One brush is electrically connected to solenoid |04, the other to |05, as shown in the wiring diagram Fig. 14.

Quill H9, rotatably mounted in housing aan has at its one end, the friction-driven pulley ||4 free to revolve on quill ||9 and mounted between ange |85, which is securely fixed to end of quill ||9 and a felt spacer |86 pressing against flange |81 which is Xed to quill ||9 by pin |03 and abuts against shoulder |89 of quill H0.

Thus any considerable resistance against rotation offered by quill ||9 will cause pulley ||4 to slip and rotate alone leaving quill ||9 to lag behind. Thus pulley ||4 may rotate without quill 9 or quill ||9 may rotate without pulley H4 except when the frictional resistance between the two exceeds the load on either pulley or quill when both will rotate together.

At the opposite end of quill ||9 is fixed a hubbed disk |38 to the face of which is attached contact spring |39 `provided with contact point |40 for contacting segment |24 or |25 whenever a relative motion occurs between hub |39 and disk |22 during rotation by a difference of their speed due to the warp drum being too slow or too fast. Finger |4| limits the relative angular y motion between hub |38 and disk |22 by engaging abutments |42 or |43 in one or the other direction. It will be seen that, beyond the limit of this enclosed angular motion, the aforementioned friction-driven pulley will slip around quill ||9.

`This friction-driven feature is provided to shorten the period of contact thus eliminating zunnecessary over feeding and over-slowing thus increasing the frequency of rectification and resulting in a more uniform and practically constantlinear velocity of thel'et off of warp 'threads from the warp drums 29 as controlled by the aforesaid mechanism. Whenever contact point '|40 Vcontacts either one or the other segments 4|24 or |25 electrical connection is established with-the corresponding solenoid |04 or |05 as Vwill '-be explained in connectionwith the wiringdiagrain, Fig. 14.

Y'In the operation of rotary switch it is necessary to pass or shift the pilot thread, warp thread 32, vz

V'fromene pulley to the other. For that purpose the idler pulley I I is provided under which pilot thread y32 can be passed from one pulley I I4 and returned to the other pulley II3 and from there continue on to the needles 3| as will be further l described presently. y

Idler pulley I |5 is rotatably mounted on lever |45 'fulcrumed on a stud |46 secured to frame structure 20. A weight I4? adjustable along a rod |49extending outward of the lever |45 beyond idler pulley I'I5, is provided to maintain an adjustable normal tension in the thread for properly driving the two pulleys ||3 and ||4. Y

The threading of the pilot thread 32 as shown ing vslide 68 and roller 132 to :a position of lower velocity, and again when'the velocity of the outin Figs. 1, 2 and 14 is from warp drum 29 to pulley ||4, around pulley ||4 one turn, down under idler pulley l| I5, topulley |13, over pulley ||3 one lhalf turn, 4down to Vand between rollers 55| and |52, up over rod |49 to and over rod |50 of the tensioning support mechanism 34 and to needles Y 3|.V

This, of course. applies :to thep.il1ct thread l32, the balance of -thethreads -on the warp Ybeam or 'reel .go direct to the needles by coming downfrom warp drum 29 -under'rod |49 to where i.

from reel 29 at the same rate Aof linear speed as it is used by the needles, and if pulleys ||3 and ||4 are of equal diameters, no change in the linearv velocity of the thread throughout this travel will Vbe present and, therefore, both pul- Y leys ||3 and ||4 will run in the samedirection Yand at exactly -the same speed of rotation and contact point will continue to rest on the insulation point |26. However, should the supply from reel 29 lag behind, pulley H4 will also lag behind while pulley |23, dueto the reserve thread in the loop of pulley -I I5 will -go on at the original velocity and contact will be established between point |40 and `segment |25-and, through the proper slip ring, brush and electrical connections, to solenoid |05 thereby engaging gear 84 and, as previously explained, shift roller 62 to a position Vof higher velocity thus Y speeding up reel 29.

When the velocity of the incoming thread from reel 29 is 'again restored to the velocity of the outgoing thread, on its way to the needles, contact point |40 will have returned to insulating` point |26, solenoid |05 will release, disengaging clutch gear 84, stopping-movement of slide '68 and roller 62. 'f

Should the velocity of the thread fed from the Vreel and entering the device be greater than that leaving the device to lthe needles, the opposite will take place. Pulley I4 will travel Vahead of pulley I3 closing the circuit to solenoid |04 caus- .going thread iis Vequal to the velocity of the incoming thread, 'Contact point |40 will have been restored to insulated. zone VI2@v and solenoid |94 willbe cut off stopping :movement of slide 68 Aand roller 62.

Thus, by this continued rectification by :the linear velocity control element a substantially uniform linear velocity Ais maintained Ain the threads let .out by the reel and a sheet of 'threads' or Vyarn vof :substantially uniform velocity is fed to :the `needles el without the 'needles playing any part whatever in thev feeding operation or its rectification.

As already fully explained, of vthe sheet of yarn or threads 39, `only one, called `the Pilot thread ,'32, is used -to regulate the entire Warp beam no :matter how long or how large in diameter this baarn-may be. Thus, .no outside or Dummy thread is used or required and the very same thread, pilot thread 132, coming from the Warp drum v29 regulates, not' only itself, but all the other threads let out from the warp drum 29 on their way to the -needles 3|. In other words, the advance section of a thread (pilot thread 32) taken from the warp is caused to I.travel at a uniform vlinear velocity and, through the .medium of two adiacently rfaced disks on both of which the same thread is wound, .the .following section, of the same thread, is caused to rectify any variation in linear velocity between itself and the advance sectionV through the instrumentality of the Vdifferential linear velocity elements 33 to regulate lthe source. of supply of `said thread. In the operation of ythe knitting machine the tensioning support mechanism -34 comprises the bars or rods .|49 and |59 between levers |54, which is a conventional 'combinati-on on present knitting machines -andis found on practically all knitting machines -of the type here considered. This mechanism plays no part in the speed of feeding of the threads 30 to needles 3| and therefore has no effect on the differential linear velocity elements 33 in the feeding of the threads to the needles -3-I. The levers |54 are duplicates, one at either end -of the machine, and vconnected by and rigidly fixed to bar |49 which in turn is rotatably mounted, at `each vend, in the end frames as shown in Fig. l. Bar or rod |50 extends -across the two levers and is secured to them at their ends. These bars |49 and |59 extend the full width of machine. Levers |54 are rotatably mounted on bar |49 one at each side frame of the machine and held up yieldingly by springs, as shown at |69, which, pushing against arm |59 of lever |54, normally keeps rod A|50 in an upper position. Spring |68 has -an Aabutment collar |70 fixed to threaded rods which in turn is free to screw in nut |72 fixed to the frame structure 29. Knob I-'I3 fixed to screw' III is turned for adjusting'tension of spring 158 and lock-nut I T4 Ylocks -the screw rods in place. Thus,v

rod |50 is yieldin'gly held upward and the thread supported thereby can followr the motion of the needles and needle barby yielding downward and upon the return ofthe needle bar, rod |50, forced up by spring |08, will take up the slack in the threads.

The function of this tensioning support mechanism 34 is to provide a yielding "support to the threads in order that the, threads may follow the forward motion of the Vneedle bar carrying the needles and, to take up that motion upon the return of said needle bar.v In Vother words, it keeps 13 the threads taut during the knitting cycle by oscillating about rod |49 as a center.

Since the warp drum 29 after rectication, by the linear velocity control elements 33, is letting out at practically constant linear velocity while the needles consume, as it were, the threads only during a portion of the knitting cycle, it follows that, for the balance of the cycle, the overfeed must be and will be taken up by lever |54 and rod |50 which will swing up to a point X above and over the normal take-up point necessary to take up the normal slack due to the return of the needle bar. It is this overfeed which will be consumed in the next knitting cycle to which is always added the current feed. Thus, a load ahead of the demand is prepared, and the needles can never have more tension on them than that originally set for the proper operation of the processing cycle.

However, the load on lever |54 is so much greater than the load applied to the pilot thread 32 by pulley ||5 due to weight |41, that the oscillating action of lever |54 would cause a continuous oscillation of pulley H3, this would of course, effect the proper action of the circuit during this continued oscillation. This effect is eliminated by the warp thread speed governing mechanism 69 which operates as a trap.

The Warp thread speed governing mechanism 6I) includes the rollers |5|` and |52 which are brought together and intergeared so that they clamp the pilot thread 32 tightly between them, trapping all vibrations from going backwards to pulley I3. As shown in Figs, 1 and 2 roller |5| is rigidly mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted in a yoke |55 secured to frame structure 2U. On this same shaft is also rigidly mounted sprocket |56 preferably drivingly connected with the sprocket 58 on shaft 42 by the chain drive 59, though any form of drive can be used.

Roller 52 intergeared with roller |5|, is rotatably mounted on stud |51 in turn pressed rigidly in lever |58 fulcrumed-on pin |59 secure in frame structure 20 by nut |99. Lever |58 has an arm |6| connected by spring |52 to pin |53 secured N.

in frame structure 29. This preferred construetion provides constant pressure between the rollers gripping the thread and also provides yielding means to permit the insertion of the pilot thread 32 between the rollers for the purpose of threading convenience.

The outside diameters of these two rollers, |5| and |52, and the pitch diameters of their respective gears are equal, thus all circumferential speeds are equal. The circumference of these rollers and the ratio of the sprocket drive are such that the amount of thread passing between the rollers during a knitting cycle is exactly the same as the amount of thread consumed by the needles in a knitting cycle, therefore the rollers |5| and |52 immediately set the linear velocity requirements for the rest of the device and for the entire machine.

If it is desired to increase the speed of these rollers the amount let out from the warp drum 29 and feed to the machine is automatically increased. If it is desired to decrease the speed of the rollers the amount let out from the warp drum 29 and feed to the machine is decreasd, and this is all done, as will appear hereinafter, without change gears and can be accomplished even while the machine is in full motion and in actual operation.

This is made possible because the warp drum drive derives its driving power from the same 14 source, as Vrollers |5| and |52, that is disk 31, therefore, if there is an increase or decrease of one there is a consequent increase or decrease of the other. Obviously, shaft 54 has no effect whatever on this increase or decrease of feed requirement. The purpose of shaft 54 is to shift roller 32 to a new position between disks 31 and 38 as required, irrespective of the speed of rotation of the disks. 1t will dov so at any speed of the disks, but as the speed of let out of the Warp, increases, clutch 9| will act more frequently and for longer periods, in fact, the velocity of the let out at the warp could increase to a point where clutch 9| would remain continuously in engagement and the roller 62 would be continuously in motion in order to keep up with the rapidly decreasing warp diameter. This condition would be reached only when the amount of feed possible would have been reached and the maximum capacity of the drive attained. .Y

The manual speed adjusting mechanismA is provided to effect this change in the feed, even While the knitting machine is in operation. This mechanism operates on the friction drive roller 5|, which transmits motion from driving disk 36 to disk 31. This friction roller 5| is mounted on a slide |90 in the same manner that roller 62 is mounted on slide E8, and slide |99 is mounted to slide in guide |9| the same as slide 68 is mounted in guide 69. But slide |99 is manually operated, whereas slide 98 is automatically operated in response to the operation of the linear velocity control elements 33.

Slide |99 is provided with a rack |92 in engagement with a gear |93 which is in integral part of a sleeve and a knob |94 rotatably mounted on a. stud |95 threaded at the end to receive a knob |958. Stud |95, which is shouldered at |9Bis secured in frame structure 29. By loosening knob |958, compression between shoulder |96 and sleeve |84 is released and the sleeve |94 and gear |93 can then be turned to move slide |99 up or down to set roller 5| in any position desired between disks 39 and 31 thus increasing or decreasing the speed of disk 31 to effect the feed desired. A scale |91 and index |99 may be provided to check the feed desired. W hen set, the knob |95a is tightened in that position securely preventing any unwanted change in the feed selected.

As set forth, shaft 4| is driven by cam shaft 2| or it may be driven by any other positive drive means of the machine, by gears or by chain as shown, and its speed never changes with respect to the speed of the drive of the knitting cycle on the machine. But, as set forth, the speed of disk 31, hence the speed of rollers |5| and |52, may be changed at will by setting gear |93 and knob |94. Therefore the speed or rate of knitting will remain constant while the thread will feed a larger or smaller amount as desired whereby the density or pattern of the fabric may be changed at will.

A convenient and advantageous safety feature is the addition of arm |64 to lever |45, switch |65 and pin |93, so that in the event pilot thread 32 should break, lever |45 is released actuating switch |65 just before coming to rest on pin |66. This switch, through its connections as shown in diagram Fig, 14, stops the entire machine.

The operating circuits for the knitting machine driving motor 22 and various control circuits referred to in connection with the linear velocity control elements, transmission circuits and various other stop switches and main circuit controls as will appear are shown in the diagram, Fig. 14.

`lepre-sentative illustrations of numerous elements lof the machine and switching. elements are shown in this diagram in the related circuits and particularly the arrangement of the linear velocity control elements 33 and their association with the pilot warp thread 32 let out from warp drum 28. In this disclosure, however, pulleys ||3 and H4 are shown by different diameters with the course of pilot warp thread 32 outlined for the sake of Vclearness; other elements of the machine and control members as well as switch elements are shown in plan elevation or diagrammatically 'for illustrating the entire of the control circuits.

In this diagram the source of power preferably alternating current is represented by lines 200 and the main circuit for knitting machine driving motor 22 being from line 200, main vcut oi switch 202, conductor 203, normally closed micro switch 204, conductor 205, through driving motor 22 to line 20|; a transformer 200 is connected in parallel with motor 22 by .Conductors 201 and 208 so that its low voltage secondary 200a will beV able to deliver ,current for operating various solenoids and switches of the control circuits whenever energy is applied to motor 22.

With the foregoing circuit for motor 22 the knitting machine, and all control circuits associated therewith, are manually controlled by the main cut oif switch '202 of any desired type.

When this switch 202 is closed current is supplied to operate motor 22, the power motor of the knitting machine provided micro switch 204 is closed. This switch 204 preferably is of the type illus- `trated wherein a low voltage solenoid 209 when energized will act on a trigger 2|0 to release a lever 2|] which in turn acts on switch 204 to cut oif all connections to open the circuits with lines 200, 20| stopping all operations. Plunger 212 l is operable for resetting lever 2 to normal position for again closing switch 204. It is understood that this circuit breaker may be of any desired conventional design.

As illustrated various circuits are provided with grounded return circuits. The frame structure 20V of the knitting machine provides this ground return circuit for the low voltage control circuits, the secondary 200a having one of its terminals 2|3V grounded, solenoid 200 being grounded at 2 |4 and the contact point |40 of the rotary switch is grounded as indicated at 2|5 for its return circuit.

The diagram shows contact point in its neutral position on insulator |20` between segments |24 and |25 of the rotary switch of the differential linear control elements 33, which is' the normal position when warp drum 29 is letting out the warp threads 30, including pilot warp thread 32 illustrated in this diagram, at vthe proper speed. Should a shortening of the thread occur due to too Vslow a drive of warp drum 29 contact point |40 will shift to segment |25 closing a circuit from transformer secondary 200e, conductor 216, switch .11, conductor 2 solenoid |05 for operating clutch 0|, conductor 2|3, segment |25, contact point |40 and the grounding 215 thereof to grounded terminal 2|3 of transformer secondary 2000. Thus solenoid |05 will operate the clutch 0| to speed up the let out speed of warp drum 29.

VIn case a looseness or over feed of pilot thread 32 occurs due to an excess speed of warp drum 23 contact point |40 will move to engage segment |24. This closes the circuit from transformer secondary winding 206eV by conductor 2 I0, switch .18, conductor 2|0, solenoid |04, conductor 220,

segment |24, contact point |40, grounding v245 thereof, to grounded termi-nal .2 I3 of transformer winding 205e. Solenoid |04 will operate on clutch 9| to slow down warpv drum 29. When in normal operation, contact |40 on insulation |20, in neutral, both solenoids |04 and |05 are deenergized, clutch 9| is disengaged, and shaft 8| and its .gearing are at rest, so that the transmission will remain at the speed set by the speed varying mechanisms 35 as controlled bythe differential linear control .elements 33.

Should the pilot thread 32 break or the end of the warp be reached, idler pulley I5 will drop, due to weight |41 operatingY switch |65 to close a circuit vfrom transformer winding 2.06a by conductors 2|6 and 22|, switch |05, conductor 222, solenoid 209, ground 2|4 `thereof to grounded terminal 2|3 of transformer winding 2065. vThis will energize solenoid 209 so as to open micro switch 204 to cut off all circuit connections with power lines 200, 20| and stop all operations.

The longitudinally slidable member 68 carrying roller E2, of the transmission speed varying mechanism 35, as heretofore set forth carries stop collars 76 and 1.0ifor operating limit switches TI and '13 at the limits of movement of roller 62 between disks 3l and 38 of the transmission 24, when rcollar l0 strikes lever |03, switch 11 shifts from contact 223 to deenergize solenoid |05, and engages contact 224; this closes the circuit from transformer winding 206e, through conductor 2|0, switch contact 224 thereof, conductors 225 and 222, solenoid 209 and grounded terminal 2|4 thereof, to grounded terminal 2|3 of transformer winding 200e. Solenoid 209 is energized thereby to cut on" the current at switch 204 as set forth.

When collar 13a strikes lever |08 switch l0 is shifted from contact 22B to contact 221. Current to solenoid |04 of the speed varying mechanisin 35 is deenergized and the circuit is made from transformer winding 200e, conductor 2|0, switch 'i8 and contact 221 thereof, conductors 228 and 222, solenoid 200 and grounded terminal 2|4 thereof to grounded terminal 2|3 of transformer winding 206e. Solenoid 209 is energized to operate switch 204 to open position cutting off all current to the knitting machine and control circuits thereof.

It is to be noted that motor 22 represents the driving means for the knitting machine which may be of anyA desired type for driving the knitting machine cam shaft 2|. for the control system in accordance with this invention is derived directly from the cam shaft 2| of the knitting machine or any other rotating part on the machine running in synchronism with the cam shaft.

Having set forth a highly satisfactory embodiment of my invention applied Vto knitting machines wherein the warp drum let off of the threads is controlled in accordance with the linear velocity as required for uniformity of the fabric produced along with limit controls and the like, it is clear that the Velocity differential control system in accordance with my invention is susceptible of modification and also application to other machines in feeding, winding, un-

winding or rewinding of other exible materials.

The driving means Y 17 terial such as web, braid, strip plastics, fibrous material, paper, linoleum, films, and the like.

In this arrangement as in the knitting machine a feed drum 23| carries such strip material 232 to be let off therefrom, the drum 23| being driven by a drive shaft 233, in very much the same manner as warp drum 28 of the knitting machine. The linear velocity rectifying device 239 operates on the drive transmission mechanism (not shown) for the drum drive shaft 233 to let out the material 232 at a uniform velocity as controlled by the rectifying device 233, the strip 232 being let out from drum 23| being threaded through this rectifier 239 and thence passing to a spool 233 upon which it is wound, or elsewhere as indicated particularly when two strips 232 and 232a are operated upon in the device.

In the linear velocity rectifying device 23B instead of V-pulleys such as ||3 and I4 of the linear velocity control elements 33, corresponding rollers 235 and 236 and 23'! are provided with Wide faces to accommodate flat strip material, as best shown in Fig. 17. As in the control elements 33, the roller 236 of the rectifier 23! has a running fit on its shaft 238 with a felt spacer 239 between one of its ends and a pressure collar 240 regulated by a nut 2LH on the projecting end of shaft 233. Roller 231 and quill 242 are drivingly connected by a gear train comprising gears 243, 24a and 245 so that roller 231 will drive hub 243 in the same direction and at the same speed as disk 237 driven by roller 236, except when there is a speed differential to be corrected by the controls as fully described in connection with the knitting machine speed control mechanisms.

The differential switch mechanism 248 is the same as that of the linear velocity control elements 33 and the reeling device may have other controls corresponding with those described in connection with the knitting machine. In this arrangement the tightener 249 is located above the rollers 233 and 231 for convenience while an idler 235 (not absolutely necessary) has been provided for convenience in threading the machine.

In this case, the strip 232 may be fed from drum 23| to and under roller 236 to and over tightener 233 down and under idler 23e to and over roller 231 to rewinding spool 234 or other processing mechanism.

It will be noted that the differential velocity control means 33 have been referred to as a rectifier, and in the claims such means will also be referred to appropriately as speed responsive means. Further the needles 3| appropriately termed warp fabricating means, that is where the warp is operated upon used, or processed in any desired manner, noting that the principal purpose of my invention is to provide a let out or winding of the warp, strands or the like at a uniform speed and incident thereto controls of the machine including stopping in case of breakage, limits with respect to range of speeds consequently diameters of material wound on the warp drum and the like.

Many applications of this differential linear velocity control mechanism will be seen possible and will suggest themselves in connection with various arts where a regulated let out and take up is required.

I claim;

1. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, and speed responsive means including a pair of elements over whichr the thread successively passes operated in accordance with differentials in linear velocity between two different sections of the thread let out from the warp drum over said elements for actuating said speed varying mechanism to maintain a uniform velocity of the delivered warp thread'.

2. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to belet out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, speed responsive means including a pair of elements over which the thread successively passes operated in accordance with differentials in linear Velocity between two different sections of the thread let out from the warp drum over said elements for actuating said speed varying mechanism to maintain a uniform velocity of the delivered warp thread, a warp thread speed governing mechanism driven at a speed corresponding with the speed of the cam shaft for controlling the operation of the speed responsive means, and means for changing the ratio of speed of said governing mechanism with respect to the cam shaft.

3. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, differential linear velocity control means including a pair of coaxial pulleys and a weighted idler pulley over which a warp thread from said warp drum is trained in passing to the warp fabricating means, and means responsive to any variation of rotation of thecoaxial pulleys by said warp thread for actuating said transmission speed varying mechanism for varying the drive of the drum whenever said coaxial pulleys are not rotating in unison.

4. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying multiple warp threads to be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, linear velocity control means including a pair of differentially operable pulleys operable for actuating said transmission speed Varying mechanism to eifect a drive of the drum to maintain a uniform velocity of the warp threads, and vmeans for operating said linear velocity control means by diverting one of the warp threads let out from the drum-over said pulleys successively to effect the operation of the same for operating the linear velocity control means and returning said diverted thread'for passage Intonaco "Lvith the remaining warp threads to the Warp fabricating means. 5." A warp knittinf machine, including in combinati'onV with a cam shaft and means for driving the 'same Yand a Warp drum for carrying a Warp thread supply to be let out to Warp fabricating means of the machine; va variable speed tra-ns- 'mission drive between the cam shaft and Warp drum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the Warp fabricating means,

speed varyingv mechanism for varying the speed 'of said transmission, differential linear velocty control including a pair of coaxial pulleys and a Weighted idler pulley over which a Warp thread from said vla-rip drum is trained in passing to the Warp fabricating means, means responsive to any variation of'rotiation of the 'coaxial pulleys by said Warp Vthread -for actuating said transmission speed varying mechanism for varying the drive 'of the vhenever said coaxial pulleys i thread supply to let out to warp fabricating means ofthe machine; va variable speed transmission drive vbetween the cam shaft and Warp drum Afor driving the -drum to let out the Warp thread sp'ply 'to the 'Warp fabricating means, said transmission including a disk driven at a 'speed "ratio iin a proportion to the 'speed of the cam shaft, a driving shaft for the Warp drum, a disk parallelto but eccentric With respect to the Vaforesaid for driving said Warp drum driving'shaftariction roller between said disks for transmitting rotar-y motion from the rst disk to the seodnd disk, speed varying mechanism for varying the driving speed by said transmission comprising, a -reciprocable member carrying said friction roller for VIncivin'g it With respect to said disks for varying the speed of the transmission 'driving means for bperating said member in either direction incln'ding a rotating driving shaft, a two1-Way'c1 ch for imparting an increasing or decreasing d from said driving shaft to said recipro'cable member, and Ymeans vfor operating said 'clutch from a released position to a driving position in either directionin-response to changes in the velocity 'of 'the Warp let out from the drum.

'7. 'A `Warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and-means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a Warp thread supply torbe let Aout to Warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and Warp drum for. driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the Warp fabricating means, said transmission including a disk driven at a speed ratio in a proportion to the speed of the cam shaft, va 'drivingshaft for the Warp drum, a disk parallel to buteccentric with respect to the aforesaid Vdisk .for driving Vsaid Warp drum driving shaft, a friction roller between said disks for transmitting rotary motion from the rst fdisk to the vsecond disk, lspeed vvarying mechanism for varying the driving speed by said transmission comprising, 'a reciprocable vmember carrying said friction roller forfmoving it with respect to said disks for varying the 4sir'needof the transmission driving means 'for operating said member in either direction including a rotating driving shaft,

a two-Way clutch for imparting an increasing or decreasing drive from said driving shaft 'to ysaid reciprocablemember, means for operating said clutch from a released position to a driving 'position inV either direction in response to changes `in the velocity of the warp let out vfrom the drum, and means for stopping the machine and ccntrols at predetermined limits of movement of the friction roller with respect to said disks.

8. A Warp knitting machine, including in com'- bination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to be let out to Warp fabricating meansY of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and Warp Vdrum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the Warp fabricating men'a's, said transmission including a disk driven at a speed ratio in a proportion to the speed of the -eam shaft, a driving shaft for the warp drum, a disk parallel to but eccentric with respect to theaforesaid disk for driving said Warp drum A driving shaft, a friction roller between said `disks "for transmitting rotary motion from the first disk to the second disk, speed varying mechanism for varyingthe driving speed by said transmission comprising, a reciprocable member carrying said friction roller for moving it with respect to 'said disks for varying the speed of the transmission driving means for operating said member in either direction including a rotating driving shaft, a two-Way clutch for imparting an increasing or decreasing drive from said driving shaft to l"said reciprocable member, means for 'operating said clutch from a released position to a driving posi"- tion in either direction in response to changes in the velocity of the Warp let 'out from the drum, and means for varying the ratio of the speed of said first disk with respect to speed of the 'cam shaft.

9. A warp knitting machine, including in 'come bination With a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a Warp thread supply to be let out to Warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft `and Warp drum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the Warp fabricating means, said transmission including a disk driven at a speed ratio in a proportion to the speed of the camshaft, a driving shaft for the warp drum, a disk parallel to but eccentric with respect to the aforesaid disk for driving said Warp drum driving shaft, a ffrc; tion roller between said disksfjor transmitting rotary motion from the first disk to the second disk, speed varying mechanism for varying the driving speed by said transmission comprising, a reciprocable member carrying said friction roller for moving it with respect to said disks "for varying the speed 'of the transmission driving means for Operating said member in 'either direction including a rotating driving shaft, a 'twoway clutch for imparting an increasing "or decreasing drive from said driving vvshaft tov sai'dre; ciprocable member, means for operating said clutch from a released position to Ia -driving DO- sition in either direction in response to changes in the velocity of the Warp let out from the drum, and means for varying the ratio of vthe speed of said first disk With respect to speed o'f the shaft and correspondingly changing the velocity at which the warp-iste be let `out from' the binationowth a `cam shaft and-'means for driving the same and a warp drum -or'carrying a Warp 21 thread supply to belet out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, said transmission including a disk driven at a speed ratio in a proportion to the speed of the cam shaft, a driving shaft for the warp drum, a disk parallel to but eccentric with respect to the aforesaid disk Vfor driving said Warp drum driving shaft, a friction roller between said disks for transmitting rotary motion from the first disk to the second disk, speed varying mechanism for varying the driving vspeed by said transmission comprising, a recipro-cable member carrying said friction roller for moving it with respect to said disks for varying the speed of the transmission driving means for operating said member in either direction including a rotating driving shaft, a two-way clutch for imparting an increasing or decreasing drive from said driving shaft to said reciprocable member, means for operating said clutch from a released position to a driving position in either direction in response to changes in the velocity of the warp let out from the drum; means for varying the ratio of the speed of said iirst disk with respect to speed of the cam shaft comprising a third disk parallel to but eccentric with respect to said rst disk driven at a speed in proportion to the speed of the Vcam shaft, a friction roller be- Y tween said first and third disks of the transmission, a reciprocable bar carrying said friction roller for varying the speed ratio of said rst and third disks, and manually operable means for moving said bar and roller to any desired position for the speed ratio required.

11. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to -be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and warp drum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supply to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, differential linear velocity control means including a pair of coaxial pulleys and a weighted idler pulley over which a warp thread from said warp drum is trained in passing to the warp fabricating means, means responsive to any variation of rotation of the coaxial pulleys by said warp thread for actuating said transmission speed varying mechanism for varying the drive of the drum whenever said coaxial pulleys are not rotating in unison, and means for adjusting the effective diameter of one of the coaxial pulleys with respect to the other to provide equal circumferences of the pulleys for any condition of operation thereof.

l2. A warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; a variable speed transmission drive between the cam shaft and Warp drum for driving the drum to let out the Warp thread supplyA to the warp fabricating means, speed varying mechanism for varying the speed of said transmission, differential linear velocity control means including a pair of coaxial pulleys and a weighted idler pulley over which a warp thread from said warp drum is trained in passing to the warp fabricating means, and means responsive to any variation of rotation oi. the coaxial pulleys by said warp thread for actuating said transmission speed varying mechanism for varying the drive of the drum whenever said coaxial pulleys are not rotating in unison, said means comprising a rotary switch including a contact carried by one of said coaxial pulleys, a pair of spaced contacts on the other coaxial pulley between which contacts said first contact is positioned when the pulleys are rotating in unison at the required warp thread speed, and a pair of electrical solenoids for operating the speed varying mechanism having circuit connections With the corresponding contacts of said pair of contacts so that when either of saidcontacts is engaged by said first contact the speed varying mechanism is brought Y into operation to either increase or decrease the stant speed driving element for driving said drum, l

a variable speed transmission between said driving element and the drum so that the speed of drive of the drum may be varied in accordance with the varying diameters of the material wound on the drum, means responsive to the diierential linear velocity of the material extending to the drum for varying said transmission to maintain a uniform velocity thereof with respect to the drum by varying the speed of drive of the drum as the diameter of the material wound thereon changes, including a pair of pulleys over which the material successively passes operated in accordance with the diierentials in linear velocity between two different sections of material extending from the drum over said pulleys for actuating said speed varying mechanism to maintain a uniform velocity of the material, and means for increasing or decreasing the velocity of the material extending to the drum.

14. In a warp knitting machine, including in combination with a cam shaft and means for driving the same and a warp drum for carrying a warp thread supply to be let out to warp fabricating means of the machine; the method of controlling the speed of the letoif of the warp thread from the warp drum which includes, the measuring of the velocity of a warp thread at one point, the measuring of the velocity of the same thread at an advanced point comparing said velocities and influencing the spefed of letoff of the warp threads to bring the speed at the two specified points to equality.

15. In a Winding and reeling device including, a drum for carrying elongated material, a substantially constant speed driving element for driving said drum, a variable speed transmission between said driving element and the drum so that the speed of drive of the drum may be varied in accordance with the varying diameters of the material wound on the drum, and means responsive to the velocity of the material for measuring the velocity of the elongated material at one point, measuring of the velocity of the same at an advanced point and comparing said velocities and influencing the speed of the let-off of the material to bring the speed of the specified points to equality.

16. In a warp knitting machine including, a drum for carrying elongated material, a cam shaft driven at a substantially constant speed for driving said drum and a variable speed transmission between said cam shaft and the drum so that the speed of drive of the drum may be varied in accordance with the varying diameters of the material wound on the drum, the method of con- Y 23 trolling the variable speed `transmission between the cam shaft and drum which includes the measuring of the velocity of the elongated material atone point, the. measuring of the velocity of the same at an Vadvanced point, comparing said i velocities and inuencing the speed of the drum so that the let-oli` of the material will bring the speed at the specied points to equality.

17. The method of providing a constant let-.off speed of the Warp threads from the drum of a warp knitting machine, which consists in operating the cam shaft of the Warp knitting machine at a constant speed, variably driving the drum from said constant speed cam shaft, selecting one of the Warp threads let-,off from the drum and measuring its velocities at successive points in its passage from the drum and returning said selected warp thread to pass with vthe other vWarp threads to the fabricating means in the machine, comparing the velocities at said points and controlling the driving of the drum from said cam shaft to equalize said velocities and thereby maintain a constant speed of al1 the warp threads regardless of the varying diameters of the Warp threads Wound on the drum.

FERDINAND G. HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,786,917 Oehmichen Y Dec. 30, -1930 2,168,071 Perry Aug. 1, 1939 2,214,355 Tiselius Sept. 10, 1940 2,361,526 Bassist Oct. 31, 1944 2,400,526 Amidon -..7.-- May 21, 1946 2,446,104 Plunkett July 27, 1948 2,468,611 Arrowood V V V Apr. 26, 1949 2,470,125 Young May 17, 1949 

